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Smoking cigarettes is the nastiest habit I could have ever picked up. It was also the most difficult habit to quit - BUT - I did quit smoking, twenty years ago this year. Below are my Seven Simple Steps to Quit Smoking Today

I had tired to quit smoking several times before I finally conquered the habit. Each time I'd give in and go back to smoking until the next attempt to quit. Each time I was unsuccessful until I used the method that I'll describe for you below.

Even though I had many of the side-effects of smoking I still could not bring myself to quit. Every morning I would get up with a dry throat yet craving another cigarette. Most of the time I would light a cigarette before I even got out of bed. In fact, I always remembered to put my cigs on the night stand before going to bed. I was a ' first-thing-in-the-morning-last-thing-at-night kind of smoker.

Listen, my father died of cancer and I still could not quit smoking. I smoked on the way to his funeral and on the way home from the funeral. I continued to smoke for another seven years after he died until one day I had had enough.

How many times have you promised yourself that you would stop smoking only to start up again after a short pause? If you are like I was then you too have been trying and failing when it comes to quitting. I always started out with good intentions but eventually gave in to the cravings.

Often times I would quit then find myself rushing to the corner store to buy a pack of cigs and then open them before I even got my change. I'd stuff one into my mouth and light it up as I hurried to get out the door. And then as the flow of smoke would start descending into my body ' that feeling of guilt and failure would encompass me - again.

I even stopped for a whole year one time only to pick up cigarettes again.

I can even remember when a young woman I was dating at the time didn't want to kiss me because of my bad breath from smoking.

If you are tired of the dry throat, bad breath, yellow teeth, smelly cloths, smoker's cough, and messy ash trays then it's time for you to latch onto a proven system that will help you to quit smoking. This system can be used on its own or in conjunction with any program.

Cigarettes are Up to $8.50 Per Pack

If you are tired of how those craving have you spending more on cigarettes and than gas then its time for you to stop putting it off and say "No More Puffing for Me"! Below I explain the system that made it possible for me to put cigarettes down and never pick them up again.

In my (non-professional) opinion, cigarette smoking generally involves both a physiological and psychological aspect.

That means both your mind and your body are involved. Both crave the cigarettes. Therefore, the solution has to involve conditioning in both your mind and your body.

Cigarette smoking was not the only addiction I had. I used this method to help me stop drinking and drugging and so can you. And what's more ' my system is free. I am not charging you to learn my system for quitting. It's free. And if you follow it then you will be smoke-free as well.

[Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this is strictly my opinion and it worked for me. Before you use this system (or any program) you should consult your own doctor for professional medical advice and clearance. I cannot and will not guarantee your results or that this system is okay for you.]

Seven Simple Steps to Quit Smoking Today

THE MENTAL ASPECT

1.Set Your "Quit Smoking Date."

Begin Now - Today! Today, you need to set a firm date to quit smoking and do not waiver from it. Do not delay it. Do not change it. Do not forget it. The date should be at least 2 weeks away, but not more that 4 weeks. From today forward you have to see yourself as an X-SMOKER.

2.Prepare Yourself.

This system requires action on your part. You have to be pro-active and ready to go! You cannot work this quit smoking system casually. You must be determined and the best way to do that is to prepare yourself.

You need to know that:

A.you will quit smoking

B.you will face challenges in your quest to quit smoking

C.you will overcome those challenges on your road to quitting cigarettes and becoming an X-Smoker

You have to tell yourself this whether you believe it or not.

Remind yourself several times - everyday - that you do not need cigarettes to live. In fact, if anything, cigarettes are killing you and you do not want to die. If you have problems visualizing then get some books or articles on visualization and practice the visualization techniques to prepare yourself to quit smoking.

3.Prepare Some Distractions.

Whatever you enjoy doing that does not include smoking ' get ready to do a lot of it. You will need lots of distractions once your Quit Smoking Date comes. Make a list of at least 6 things you enjoy (or always wanted to try) doing that does not include smoking.

Treat your mind as if it is a television or radio. If your mind starts playing a tune that you do not like (with a cigarette in it) then CHANGE THE CHANNEL! Change to the non-smoker's channel. Do like Nancy Reagan used to say about drugs, "Just Say No!" I'm serious, stop listening to the wrong music in your head about the pleasures of smoking, stop watching the wrong movie of you with a cigarette. Watch the movie of your life that has you as an X-smoker, as someone who no longer smokes cigarettes. When the same old bad tune starts creeping back in, change the station, use the distractions that are listed in number six below.

4.Get Some Friendly Help.

If you can, get your spouse, close friend or special-someone to help as you birth this new life of being smoke-free and cigarette-free. This should be someone you really trust ' because there might be some soul-searching and truth-bearing that goes on in this process of quitting cigarettes. This person will need to be strong-willed enough to tell you "no" repeatedly ' and do it in love ' tough love if you will. While this help is not always necessary, if you are going to use it like a woman in labor uses her Lamaze-partner ' you better choose carefully. Ideally, if you are married, that person will be your spouse.

THE PHYSICAL ASPECT

5.Personal Detox.

You need 24-48 hours away from smoking to get your body used to doing without cigarettes. A week away in the country on a camping trip would be great. In those 12-Step systems they talk about "people, places and things." You need to get away from people, places and things that you associate with smoking. Whatever activities you normally did while smoking ' don't do those for a while. Make a list and make sure that you stay away from them.

I suggest that you either lock yourself away with your spouse out in the country or on a boat where you cannot get cigarettes.

The best time to have your last smoke is late at night before you go to bed. Make sure that you do not have any more cigarettes for the next morning. Have a full schedule of things planned to keep you busy.

6.Get Physical.

If you start exercising then you will feel the freshness in your body. When you cannot get a cigarette and the craving starts ' get more physical. Be prepared to be very loving (with your spouse) during those times and expect to exert yourself physically. You need to work your body, whether it is walking, hiking, making love, riding a bicycle, rowing a boat or whatever ' as long as you are exerting yourself to help work the smoke out of your system. (Keep in mind the health warning above in the Disclaimer ' see your physician before you do this system to stop smoking.)

Drink lots of water to flush your system out. When you want a smoke, drink water instead. Stay away from alcohol. Sleep is also good. It helps to pass away the time as your body gets used to being without the cigarettes on your way to the 48 hour threshold.

7.Don't Look Back.

In the Bible when God rescued Lot and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah they were told to not look back or they would turn to salt. Well, the wife looked back, guess what happened? She turned to salt (Genesis 19:26). Do you want to turn to salt? Do you want to return to smoking? Do you want to continue to spend all that money on cigarettes? Do you want to continue to have the health risk associated with smoking? Then don't look back. Keep moving forward.

As I said earlier, this system worked for me to not only quit smoking but also to quit other addictions that I had. It can work for you too ' if you work it.

Akili Kumasi